Air outlet device



April 3, 1945. F. HONERKAMP ETAL AIR OUTLET DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5:15:lvhv..lliwnlnolalrnnalrllavu In :all

InednbhHorrkam 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. HONERKAMP ET AL Filed Nov. 5, 1940 'April 3, 1945.

April 3, 1945. u F HONERKAMP -rAL Y 2,372,830-

AIR OUTLET DEVICE Filed Nov` 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f6@ go. mu 56 8 A zow fg@ i 16 www @www Patented Apr. 3, 1945 Maurice Serre,-New rYorkyNfY., assignors to Anemostat Corporation ofmerica, a corpora- .tion .of vDelaware IApplication.November 5,1940/Seral No. 364,464

i lz oiaims. I (crea-4o) This invention relates to ventilating apparatus, and has particular reference to improvements in outlet devices for the delivery of fresh-"or conditioned air into rooms or other enclosures.`

' Usually draftlessdelivery'of 'freshor condi- I order to. overcome ATor alleviatethe sickness-or nausea, fto direct ajet or blaster-fresh or conditioned air. toward the person affected.- IAISO. in thecase ofan aircraft, ship or otherconveyan'ce travelling from acool climate or 'atmosphere to a'warm or hot climate or atmosphere `it may be vdesirable for reasons of comfort'to passengers or operators to havefresh' or conditioned'air delivered to the cabin or rooms of the-aircraft',l

ship or other conveyance in the form ',of a jet or blast insteadof draftlessly or ina diffused manner. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an air outlet device embodying a. construction whereby-it may readily be adjusted to eiect delivery of fresh or treat-J ed air into a. cabin, room or other Venclosure either in a diffused, substantially draftless manner, or in the form of a jet or blast, or, if desired, partly in diffused form and partly in the form of a jet or blast. Also in this connection another object of the invention is to provide for additional adjustments of the device whereby an air jet or blast may conveniently bedelivered in various diierent directions and in `dierent intensities from the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an airoutlet device embodying provision' for the adjustments mentionedand which, at the same time, is of simple," inexpensive construction, strong, sturdy and unlikely to get out of order and which is thoroughly reliable and emcient in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view.' which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood,'the same consists in an air outlet device embodying the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and dened in the appended claims.

- In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of referenceV denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 'is a 'centralL longitudinal section through an air outlet device constructed in `ac 4cordance 'with one practical embodiment of the invention; the 'device'being shown adjusted for thedifus'ed rdelivery vof air therefrom.

' Figure `2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device adjusted for the delivery of air therefrom in the' form of a'jet or blast.' l

' 'Figure '3 is 'a side elevation of the device as showrin Fig.' 2.

Figure 4"i's across section on the line 4 4 of Fig.`3.."-1:'* .Y v E Figures'' and-'6 are sections similar to Fig. 4 showing 'the air-jet or blast orifice of ythe device closed 'and 'fully' open, respectively.

'f rlligurev '7 a central, longitudinal section through'an alternative formfof the'device havingia-position of adjustment to eiect diused delivery of air therefrom. l

'Figure Sis-a' view similar to Fig. 7 showing the device adjusted to eect delivery of air therefrom in the form of a jet or blast; and

Figurer9'is a Afront Aend view of the 'air jet or blast 'delivery tube of the device shown in Figs. 'Zand-8.

' f'For'convenience and deniteness in describing the present device it will be assumed that the same is used as a ceiling outlet. The device may, however, be used as a side wall outlet. It is to be understood, therefore, that the terms used to describe the device as a ceiling outlet apply equally as well to the device should the same be installed as a side Wall outlet.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, rst with'particular reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, l0 designates the neck of the device which may be of any suitable length and of circular or any other' suitable-shape in'cross section, and H designates a flaring member constituting a bottom continuation'ofY said neck; Aeither as -an integral part thereof 'or as a part separate therefrom and joined thereto in any suitable manner.

'- Of smaller diameter than the neck Ill and disposed therein, preferably concentrically with respect thereto, is a=cylindrical sleeve l2, while constituting a bottom continuation of said sleeve, either as an integral part thereof or as apart separate therefrom and joined thereto in any suitablemanner, is a aring member I3 which is spaced inwardly from the flaring member Il. Thus,vthe neck'lll.- and the-sleeve I2 define therebetween an annular air supply passageway designated as a, while the flaring members II and I3 define therebetween a flaring air expansion passageway b, also of annular form, which is open at its ends and which, at its upper end, is in air receiving communication with the annular air supply passageway a.

Preferably the flaring passageway b is divided into two or more separate aring passageways by one or more open-ended, hollow flaring members I4 interposed between the flaring members I I and I3. This, however, is not essential. Neither is it essential that the liaring member I3 constitute a bottom continuation of the sleeve I2. On the contrary, said flaring member I3 may extend from the side of said sleeve I2, in which event said sleeve may extend downwardly any suitable distance beyond the point of junction of the upper end f the aring member I3 therewith. Moreover, while the drawings illustrate Ythe lower ends of the flaring members I I, I3 and I4 as being disposed in a common plane, this likewise is not essential, as the lower ends of said members may be disposed in various other relationships to each other.

In the present instance a frusto-conical ll'er block I is illustrated as-beng disposed within the flaring member I3 to, in eiect, extend the sleeve I2 downwardly to the' lower end of said flaring member I3, while the sleeve I2, the ilaring members I3 and I4 and said fillerv block are illustrated as being mounted in assembly with each other and with the neck Ill and the flaring member I I by means of screws I6' extending through the daring members II, I4 and I3 and threaded into said ller block, spacing elements I'I being' interposed between said flaring members. However, the liller block I5 is not essential, particularly if the sleeve I2 is extended downwardly beyond the point of junction of the ari'ng member I3 therewith, and in thatv case may be dispensed with if desired. Moreover, the sleeve I2 and the aring member I3, as well as the flaring member or members I4, if same are used, may be mounted in assembly with the neck I0 and the flaring member I I in any other suitable manner.

Mounted in the sleeve I2 for longitudinal sliding movement and for rotation with respect thereto is a tube I8 which is open at its top and at or near its top is provided with an outwardly extending flange I9' constituting a valve for controlling flow of air into the annular passageway a from a duct with which the neck I0 is oonnected. In this connection it will be noted that the upper end of the neck I0 is covered by a rubber ring 2| against which the flange I9 is designed to seat to close the passageway a, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. However, said ring is not essential. Neither is it essential that the flange I 9 cooperate with the top of the neck I Il to control ow 0f air from the duct 20 to the passageway a. On the contrary, the ange I 9 obviously may cooperate with the bottom wall of the duct 20.

At its lower end the tube I 8- is provided with an inwardly extending' ange 22 upon which seats the bottom of a cup-like valve member 23 which snugly fits the bottom portion of said tube and iS rotatable therein.

In the side of the tube I8 near the lower end thereofv is an air blast outlet port 2W, while in the side of the valve member 23 is a port 25 for alinement with and disalinement from the port 24 by rotation of said valve member 23- relative to said tube I8.

The flange 22 delnes in' the bottom of the tube I8 a central opening, and in this opening is disposed an upwardly oiset central portion of a disk 26 the marginal portion of which underlies the flange 22. Against the bottom of the disk 2G is disposed a knob or handle 2l, while extending downwardly through the bottom wall of the valve member 23 and the central portion of the disk 26 and threaded into said knob or handle are screws 28 which serve to connect said valve member, disk and knob or handle securely together. A swivel connection thus is provided between the tube I8 and the valve member 23 whereby the latter is maintained rotatably mounted in the lower end portion of said tube for convenient rotation therein by means of the handle 21. Moreover, since the handle 21 is immovable longitudinally with respect to the tube I8, said handle constitutes a convenient means for use in shifting said tube I8 longitudinally with respect to the sleeve I2.

Carried by the valve member 23 at one side of the port 25 therein is a lug 29 which extends outwardly through the port 24 in the tube I8 for cooperation with stops constituted by the edges o said tube defining the sides of the port 24 therein. Thus, the lug 29 in conjunction with said stops limits rotation of the valve member 23 to an amount just suilcient to fully open and close the port 24. It will be apparent, therefore', that when the valve member 23 is rotated in a direction to aline the ports 24 and 25, that is to say, to open the port 24, any further rotation of said valve member in that direction after alinement of said ports will result in the tube I8 being rotated with said valve member. Like'- wise it will be apparent that when the valve member 23 is rotated in the opposite direction to disaline the ports 24 and 25 and thereby close the port 24, any further rotation of said valve member in said opposite direction after closing of Said port 24 will result in the tube I8 being' rotated therewith in s opposite direction. Manif'estly, therefore, the andle 2'! is adapted for use not only to rotate the valve member 23 relative to the tube I8 to open and close the port 24 and to shift said tube I8 longitudinally relative to the sleeve I2, but also to rotate said tube I8 relative to the sleeve I2 to rotatably adjust the port 24 relative to the device.

The disk 2G is of a diameter such that its margina-l portion underlies the inner portion of the filler block I5, Thus, upward movement or retraction of the tube I8 is limited by engagement of the marginal portion of said disk with the stop constituted by the bottom face of said ller block I5. On the other hand, downward movement or projection of the tube I3 is, of course, limited by engagementof the ange I9 with the ring 2i or with the bottom wall of the duct 20, as the case may be. In this connection the length of the sleeve I2 and of the port Z4 and the permissible amount of longitudinal movement of the tube I-8 are such that when said tube is fully retracted, as shown in Fig. l, the port 24 is completely closed by the sleeve I 2 and the filler block I5 regardless of the position of the valve member 23 relative to said tube, and when said tube is fully projected, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said port 24 is disposed completely below the bottom of the liller block I5. Thus it is apparent that when the tube I8 is fully retracted no air may flow therefrom through the port 24 and all air supplied tothe device from the duct- 23 must enter the device through the annular passageway a and be delivered-from the device through the On the other hand, it is apparent that when the tube I8 is fully projected the annular air passageway a ls closed against flow of amy air thereto from the duct 2D and all air delivered from the device must pass through the tube I8 and its port 24. Alternatively, in intermediate positions of longitudinal adjustment of the tube I8, part of the supplied air obviously may flow through the passageways a and b and the remaining part may flow through said tube I8 and its port 24 under the control of the valve member 23. By rotatably adjusting the valve member 23 relative to the tube I8 the amount of air which may flow through the port 24 may be regulated, while by rotatably adjusting said tube I8 the port 24 may be positioned to direct the air delivered therethrough in any direc-tion laterally with res-peet to the device.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the valve member 23 is provided with suitable means for deecting supplied air, passing through said tube` toward the port 24, said means comprising, for example, either a filler block disposed in said valve member and having an upper face inclined flaring passageway b.

downwardly toward said port, as shown, or. alternatively, simply a deflector plate mounted in said valve member in any suitable manner.

Air flowing through the port 24 obviously is delivered from the device in the form of a jet or blast. On the other hand, due to the annular :l

flaring nature of the passageway b, and especially to the dividing of said passageway into a plurality of separate flaring passageways if one or more of the flaring members I4 are used,

air flowing through said passageway b is deliv- I ered from the device in diffused. substantially draftless form.

Any suitable means may be provided to hold the valve member 23 in different rotatably adjusted positions relative to the tube I8, and any other suitable means may be provided for holdingt said tube I8 in differed: positions of longitudinal and rotative adjustment relative to the sleeve I2. However, practical means for these purposes may comprise a ring 3l of felt or other friction material interposed between the flange 22 and the disk 26, and a sleeve 32 of felt or other suitable friction material interposed between the sleeve I2 and the tube I8. The frictional resistance to rotation of the valve member 23 offered by the ring 3l is less than the frictional resistance to rotation of the tube I8 offered by the sleeve 32. Consequently, the valve member 23 may be rotatably adjusted to vary the effective area of the port 24 without disturbing any given position of rotative adjustment of the tube I8. Of course. to eiect rotative adjustment of the tube I8 in one direction or the other it first is necessary to rotate the valve member 23 to a position fully closing or fully opening the port 24. depending upon the direction in which it is desired to rotatably adjust the tube I8. Thereafter, the valve member 23 may be rotatably adjusted relative to the tube I8 to vary the effective area of the port 24.

Recapitulating, it is apparent that the present outlet device provides for the dilfused. substantially draftless delivery therefrom of all supplied air flowing therethrough. or for the jet or blast delivery therefrom in any one of numerous different directions of all supplied air flowing therethrough, or for the delivery of part of the supplied air in diffused, substantially draftless form and of the remaining pari-l of the supplied air in the form of a jet or blast; also, for regulation of the amount of air delivered either in diffused or jet blast form.

The device illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 of the drawings is, generally speaking, of the same construction and mode of operation as the device illustrated in Figs. l to 6, except in respect to the valve means for controlling flow of air through the tube I8a which corresponds to the tube I3 of the Figs. l to 6 construction.

According to the Figs. '7 to 9 form of the invention the tube I8a is provided with a port 24a opening through the side and also through the bottom thereof, and with a valve, designated generally as 33, for regulating the amount of air owlng through said port and its direction of flow therefrom.

The valve 33 comprises a plate 34 hinged at one end to the bottom of the tube ISa, as indi cated at 35, for swinging movement between a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. '7, in which it closes the portion ofthe port 24*al in the bottom of said tube, and any one of a number of other positions in which it extends downwardly from the bottom of said tube I8a at an inclination thereto and to a greater or lesser extent opens the said portion of the port 24 in the bottom of said tube |88. Moreover, said valve includes side walls or wings 36 which serve to close the sides of the space between the plate 34 and the bottom of the tube I88L when said plate is swung downwardly from its position shown in Fig. 7 so that air flowing from the tube I8 through the port 24a is confined between said side walls or wings and thereby is caused to be delivered in jet or blast form from said tube. In this connection one or more air deector plates 31 may connect the side walls or wings 36 in spaced, parallel or substantially parallel relationship to the plate 34 to divide the air delivered from the tube I8au into two or more separate streams, but the plates 31 are not essential and their use is optional. In any event, downward swinging movement of the plate 34 from its position shown in Fig. 7 increases the effective area of the port 24a and determines the angle at which air will be delivered downwardly and outwardly from said port.

Obviously the port 24a may be confined to the bottom of the tube I8a and need not be formed in part in the side of said tube. It is preferred, however, to have said port formed in vpart in the side of said tube in order to provide for delivery of air laterally from said tube in certain instances. If a portion of the port 24a is in the side of the tube I8a such portion of said port will not be closed by the plate 34 when said plate is in its closed position illustrated in Fig. "1. In that case some air might undesirably leak through the tube I8a, even when said tube is retracted and the portion of the port 24a in the side thereof is closedA by the sleeve |23, if the tube I8a should, when retracted, be in open communication at its upper end with the air supply duct 28a. Accordingly, a fixed valve element 38 of rubber or other suitable material may be provided to close the upper end of the tube I8 when said tube is retracted. This valve element 38, if provided, may be supported, for example, upon the top wall of the duct 20, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

The plate 34 is provided with a suitable handle 2'Ia for adjusting same relative to the tube I 81 and also for longitudinally and rotatably adjusting said tube.

- Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely fitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected with the duet, means providing an open-ended air passageway outwardly of said sleeve disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected to the duct, said tube having an air outlet opening and being projectable and retractable and rotatable relative to said sleeve to dispose said air outlet opening for delivery of air from different points and in diierent directions relative to the device, means operable by projection of said tube to. close said passageway and by retraction of said tube to open said passageway, a valve carried by said tube and adjustable relative thereto to regulate flow of air through said opening, a handle on said valve disposed in front of the front end of said tube to adjust said valve relative to said tube to regulate flow of air through said air outlet opening, and means whereby said handle is operable, through said valve, to project and retract and rotate said tube relative to said sleeve.

2. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely fitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with said duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve,

and a valve element within said tube coaxial therewith and axially rotatable relative thereto, to vary the eiective area of said side opening.

3. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely iitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, said tube also being rotatable relative to said sleeve to dispose said air outlet openingin desired angular relationship to said sleeve, a valve element within said tube coaxial therewith and axially rotatable relative thereto to vary the effective area of said side opening, and means limiting rotation of said valve element relative to said tube to render said valve element effective to rotate said tube.

4. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely iitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, means providing an open-ended air passageway outwardly of said sleeve disposed to be in cornmunication with the duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, means carried by said tube to close said passageway when the tube is projected and to open said passageway when the tube is retracted, and a valve within said tube, coaxial therewith and axially rotatable relative thereto to vary the eiective area of said side opening.

5. An air outlet device for connection with an' air supply duct, said d evice comprising an openended-sleeve, a tube closely fitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, means providing an open-ended air passageway outwardly of said sleeve disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable and rotatable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the Vforward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, and to be disposed in desired angular position relative to the device by rotation of said tube, means operable by projection of said tube to close said passageway and by retraction of said tube to open said passageway, valve means carried by said tube and adjustable With respect thereto to vary the eiective area of said air outlet opening, a handle on said valve means exposed at the forward end of the device for manipulating said valve means, and means whereby said handle is operable through said valve to rotatably and longitudinally-adj ust said tube relative to said sleeve.

6. An a-ir outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely iitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected thereto, said tube having an air outlet opening and being projectable and retractable and rotatable relative to said sleeve to dispose said air outlet opening for delivery of air from different points and in different directions relative to the device, valve means for regulating iiow of air through said opening, means defining an air delivery passageway around said sleeve for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected thereto, means whereby projection of said tube denies communication between the duct and said passageway and whereby retraction of said tube establishes communication between said duct and said passageway, and iixed means with which said tube cooperates When retracted to deny communication between said duct and said tube.

7. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely tting said sleeve and disposed for communication with the duct when the device is operatively connected thereto. said tube having an air outlet opening and being projectable and retractable and rotatable relative to said sleeve to dispose said air outlet opening for delivery of air from diierent points and in diiferent directions relative to the device, means dening an air delivery passageway around said sleeve for communication with the duct when .the device is operatively connected -thereto, means whereby projection of said tube denies communication between said duct and said passageway and whereby retraction of said tube establishes communication between said duct and said passageway, and a valve for regulating flow o air through the air outlet opening in said tube, said valve comprising a plate pivoted to said tube and swingable outwardly therefrom to increase the eective area of said opening, and wings on the sides of said plates to close the sides of the space between said plate and the tube when the plate is swung outwardly from the tube.

8. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely fitting said sleeve and disposed for communication with said duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, a valve element within said tube coaxial therewith and axially rotatable relative thereto, to vary the eiective area of said side'opening, and air deector means carried by said valve element for deflecting air laterally through said opening.

9. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely tting said sleeve and disposed for communication with said duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, a valve element within said tube coaxial therewith and axially rotatable relative thereto, to vary the effective area of said side opening, and means providing within said valve an air deflecting surface inclined relative to said valve toward said opening to deflect air laterally through said opening. l0. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely tting said sleeve and disposed for communication with said duct when the device ls operatively connected with said duct. said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed by said sleeve when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered, by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, and air deector means carried by said tube for deecting air laterally through said opening.

11. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an open ended sleeve, a tube closely itting said sleeve and disposed for communication with said duct when the device is operatively connected with said duct, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve and having a side air outlet opening to be closed .by said sleeve' when the tube is in a retracted position relative to said sleeve and to be disposed in advance of the forward end of said sleeve and thereby uncovered by projection of the tube relative to said sleeve, and valve means within said tube for regulating iiow of air through said side opening in said tube.

l2. An air outlet device for connection with an air supply duct, said device comprising an openended sleeve, a tube closely fitting said sleeve and having an open rear end to aiord communication between said tube and the duct when the device is operatively connected to the duct, said tube having an air outlet opening, means including a valve carried by said tube for regulating flow of air through said opening, said valve being adjustable relative to said tube to a position completely denying iiow of air through said outlet opening and to dierent positions to vary the effective area of said opening, said tube being projectable and retractable relative to said sleeve so that air may be delivered at different points longitudinally relative to the device, and a handle xed to said valve for adjusting the same relative to said tube and also for operation, through said valve, to project and retract said tube relative to said sleeve, said handle being disposed in front of the front end of said valve and also in front of the front ends of said sleeve and tube for ready access in all positions of adjustment of said valve and said tube.

FRIEDRICH I-IONERKAMP.

FRANZ J. KURTH.

MAURICE SERRE. 

